John Hill & Co

(Johillco)

John Hill & Company was established in 1889, at an address in Islington, North London, by a Mr. F H Wood who had previously worked for William Britain. Little is known about the company up to 1918 or its products as there are no known catalogues for that period. After the end of the hostilities production of model figures and soldiers increased dramatically and by 1932 the company employed over 400 staff and was self sufficient in that no work was sub contracted out, in fact it was the other way round as it offered a casting service to other smaller companies in North London. Apart from producing a wide range of figures it also produced advertising and novelty items. For the 1937 Coronation it produced large scale figures of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth along with several boxed display sets containing the coach. At this time it was considered that Hill was only second to Britains Limited for producing items of quality. The factory suffered bomb damage in the early 1940s but remarkably most of the moulds were saved.

In 1946 the company was taken over by Mr. Alec Standing, a businessman from Lancashire with the moulds removed to new premises in Burnley. Production restarted with many of the old favourite figures and animals being produced in their thousands. Although the salvaged 1930s moulds were in good condition it was not considered that they should be re-issued in the 1950s. During this period the company supplied a number of special sets exclusively to the New York store Macy's, and in keeping with the age introduced a range of space figures. As with some other producers it began making plastic figures in hollowcast moulds under the name of Hilco, in the mid to late 1950s and finally closed for business in 1960.

Listed here are mainly civilian items. John Hill also produced many fine figures of soldiers, airmen, sailors, cowboys and Indians.